TECH TIPS PAGE ELEVEN

Canoe Building Time-Line by John Lindman

Prepare Site - Day One
Awning, fire pit, table, building bed, tank, heater

Prepare Root - Day One & Day Two
Insert in pot, bring to boil and let sit for 3 hours
Split
Remove bark

Prepare Thwarts - Day Three
Carve

Prepare Gunwales - Day Three
Bevel Inside Gunwale
Laminate Ends
Bend Ends

Prepare Stem Pieces - Day Three
Carve
Laminate
Bend

Prepare Sheathing - Day Four
Split blanks down for ribs and sheathing
Make sheathing blanks and then soak them
Pick out the various pieces and where they will go
Soak it

Prepare Ribs - Day Five
Split rib blanks
Carve ribs

Final prep of root and sheathing - Day Five
Final split and trim of sheathing pieces. (Carve as necessary to get all pieces consistent in thickness)
Do final prep of sheathing - get each root consistent in size with all others

Roll-out Bark - Day Six
Weight it down
Cut gores
Bring up sides
Insert side panels
Stake into place
Check

Stitch - Day Seven & Eight
Mark line
Mark holes
Peg
Stitch

Insert Gunwales - Day Nine
Release inside stakes
Insert gunwales
Height Sticks
Clamp
Check

Lash Gunwales - Days Nine & Ten
Peg
Lash (to end thwart)

Insert Stems - Day Eleven
Peg one side
Trim bark
Peg other
Trim half way
Remove Frame

Insert Permanent Thwarts - Day Twelve
Make Mortise
Insert
Peg

Turn-up and Lash Gunwale Ends - Day Twelve
Make cardboard template
Trim bark
Lash
Do fancy lashing at end of gunwales or do bark deck

Bend Ribs - Day Thirteen
Bend
Install binder
Place in sun to dry

Pitch Inside - Day Fourteen
Prepare canvas
Mark all inside holes with felt pen
Pitch
Cover w/canvas

Insert Ribs and Sheathing - Day Fourteen

Insert Ashleaf or man-board - Day Fourteen
Carve
Fit

Apply Gunwale Cap - Day Fifteen
Make Pegs
Drill & Fit
Lash ends

Pitch outside - Day Fifteen
Prepare pitch
Pitch

Test - Day Fifteen
Place on saw horses
Add about an inch of water
Go underneath canoe and mark with pencil any leaks (slosh water around to check all necessary areas)
Pitch as needed Maiden voyage!

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